Delivering services in residential aged care

Provider responsibilities

As a registered provider, you must deliver permanent and residential respite care in line with the Aged Care Act 2024 and the Aged Care Rules 2025. 

You must provide care and services as set out in the Residential Care Service List to meet residents’ assessed needs. You must deliver all services in line with the Aged Care Quality Standards and the Statement of Rights.  

Learn more about responsibilities of residential aged care providers.

Service list 

The Residential Care Service List (service list) sets out the care, services and equipment that you must deliver for permanent and respite residents.

There are 4 categories of required services:

• accommodation – running and maintaining the aged care home, including the building and grounds
• everyday living – services people need every day, such as bedding, furniture, meals and toiletries
• non-clinical care – personal, social and emotional support, including aids and equipment, social activities and personal care
• clinical care – direct clinical services, including nursing care, medication management and therapy programs.

Funding for care and services on the service list

You are paid subsidies and supplements on behalf of each permanent care and respite residents to meet their assessed care needs.

This includes a hotelling supplement to help meet the cost of providing everyday living services, like catering, cleaning and laundry.

Learn about funding for residential aged care.

Accommodation

You must provide residents with a safe, comfortable and well-maintained place to live, as outlined in the service list.

Accommodation services include:

• maintaining the building and grounds, including communal spaces such as dining and recreation areas, and personal rooms – shared and private
• covering costs for maintenance, repairs and refurbishments to keep the aged care home safe and in good condition
• administrative duties, such as preparing service agreements and accommodation agreements and managing related paperwork, so residents understand what is included in their living arrangements and what they will pay.

Everyday living

You must provide services that make daily life comfortable and safe for residents. This means residents have access to essential day-to-day items and support outlined in the service list, without extra charges.

Everyday living services include:

• healthy meals served, with snacks and drinks throughout the day that must:
  • meet health needs
  • respect personal, cultural or religious preferences, such as vegetarian, kosher or halal diets
  • comply with Aged Care Quality Standard for food and nutrition (Standard 6).
• hotelling and personal laundry services, including:
  • washing, drying and ironing if requested
  • keeping bedrooms, bathrooms and communal spaces clean and safe
• utilities, such as electricity, water, heating and cooling to keep the environment comfortable
• toiletries, such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste and tissues
• access to communication tools, such as phones or internet, to stay connected with family and supporters
• emergency assistance available always, with staff trained to respond quickly to medical or safety incidents.

Non-clinical care

You must provide personal and emotional support that is not medical but is essential for wellbeing, as outlined in the service list.

Non-clinical care includes:

• help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, grooming and eating to maintain dignity and comfort
• emotional support for residents who feel lonely or distressed, and help for new residents to settle in
• mobility support, including help with walking and providing aids, such as walking frames and wheelchairs
  • this excludes motorised wheelchairs, electric mobility scooters and customised aids
• continence care, including supplying and assisting with as many products to maintain hygiene and dignity to meet care needs
• social and recreational activities every day to keep residents engaged and connected, including games, music, arts and community outings
  • some costs incurred during outings, such as barista coffee, or movie or show tickets, may be charged to residents through higher everyday living agreements.

Clinical care

You must provide health and medical services to meet residents’ clinical needs, as outlined in the service list.

You must ensure clinical care services are delivered by qualified staff and meet each residents’ health needs and preferences. 

Clinical care services include:

• nursing care, including:
  • regular health check-ups, wound care, pain management and support for chronic conditions
  • consumables such as bandages, dressings, swabs, saline, drips, catheters and tubes
• medication management, including safely storing, administering and monitoring medicines
• therapy programs, such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and other allied health services, to help residents maintain or improve mobility and independence
• tailored dementia and cognitive support programs to enhance quality of life for residents with memory loss or cognitive challenges
• access to health professionals, including doctors and allied health specialists, when needed.

Higher level services

You can charge a higher everyday living fee for services (other than accommodation related services) that are of a higher standard than those on the service list, or for services not listed.

Learn more about higher everyday living fees.

Learn more

• Managing residential aged care services
• Charging for residential aged care
• Responsibilities of residential aged care providers
• Care minutes and 24/7 registered nurses in residential aged care
• Improving food and nutrition in aged care

Resources

• Residential Care Service List
  This booklet provides information on the care and services that residential care homes are required to provide.
• Residential Care Service List and higher everyday living fee – Guidance for providers 
  The information in this manual is intended as a general guide to providers on the policy intent of the Residential Care Service List and the Higher Everyday Living Fee (HELF).
• Higher everyday living fees in residential care homes
  This booklet provides information on the new higher everyday living services that residential care homes may offer from 1 November 2025.

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